March 11, 2006

The 2006 JUNO Awards Impact School Music Programs

For Immediate Release – March 11th 2006 – 27 music school programs are making their shopping list after Musicstop Music In Schools wrapped up its successful fundraiser earlier this week. The program raised tens of thousands of dollars, all of which will go toward the music departments in these schools, with an additional incentive of 20% being added to funds spent at program sponsor, Musicstop.

Musicstop Music In Schools provided 27 schools across the province the opportunity to sell tickets on 27 Juno weekend prize packages that include two nights accommodation at the Delta Barrington; two wrist bands for JunoFest; two tickets to Juno Fan Fare and two tickets to the 2006 JUNO Awards (total value $1,250).

Stuart Jolliffe, Chair of the Halifax Play Hard, host committee for The 2006 JUNO Awards committee, said, "From the first day we started organizing events surrounding the 2006 JUNO Awards, the Halifax Play Hard committee was energized by the idea of providing a province wide legacy that would support the earliest stages of music development. The energy of our Music in Schools committee, sponsors, band leaders and students has been very rewarding and the additional funds to these band programs will make a world of difference."

The initiative also gave top-selling students at each school a Rogers Pay-As-You-Go cell phone courtesy of Rogers Wireless and each school will receive performance equipment and accessories courtesy of Sennheiser Canada.

Rob Wolf of St. Mary’s Academy, Sherbrooke said, “This money will make an impact on a very small music program. The students are coming up with a list of things they would like to see added to a very well used music room. Who knows, the next big music artist might come out of a class that your efforts supported.”

The 27 Juno prize packages were drawn March 8. Prizes will be awarded during the Bringin’ in Home concert series, which will be making stops in or near each school community in your area. See participating schools, corresponding winners, and the Bringin’ It Home concerts listed below.

Bringin' it Home is a provincial concert series designed by Music Nova Scotia and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. It presents a varied line-up of Nova Scotia musicians in locations throughout the province that may not otherwise have exposure to them. The concert series is currently traveling to 27 communities in Nova Scotia with 21 of today’s hottest Nova Scotia music makers. For more information and a list of performing artists, visit www.musicnovascotia.ca

For more information, visit www.halifaxplayhard.com

>> Click here for a list of winning schools